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    Ellipses

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    hananlr.2024

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Ellipses

    Uploaded by

    hananlr.2024
    7 views2 pages

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    Ellipses

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    hananlr.2024

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    of 2

    San José State University Writing Center

    www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
    Written by Samantha Clark
    Ellipses
    Ellipses ( . . . ) are used to show omitted words, hesitations, and pauses. They consist of three
    equally spaced periods. Ellipses, also called ellipsis points, are colloquially known as “dot-dot-
    dot.”

    Using Ellipses to Show Omission


    A space should precede and follow the ellipses. When omitting a word or words in a quotation,
    use ellipses to indicate the deleted word or words.

    Original Text: “He got away. We called in for backup, drove with blaring sirens, and chased
    after him, but he ran faster than we did,” said the policeman.

    Ellipses: “He got away. We . . . chased after him, but he ran faster than we did,” said the
    policeman.

    Note: Be sure the omission does not change the basic meaning of the quote, and the sentence
    remains grammatically correct.

    Ellipses are only in brackets to differentiate between ellipses already present in the quote and
    your omission. If the quote already has an omission, use brackets around the ellipses you are
    adding to indicate which is yours and which is the original.

    Original Text: “I’m feeling my Inner Infant standing holding the bars of his crib and looking out
    of the bars . . . bars of his crib and crying for his Mommy and Daddy to come hold him and
    nurture him.”

    Ellipses: “I’m feeling my Inner Infant [ . . . ] looking out of the bars . . . bars of his crib and
    crying for his Mommy and Daddy to come hold him and nurture him.”
    ~David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest

    Ending with Ellipses


    Use ellipses when the quotation ends with a parenthetical reference (such as a page number, a
    name, or a title), and follow the ellipses with the ending quotation, citation, and period.

    Example: “We know that Leonardo’s interest in Euclidian geometry developed during his years
    in Milan . . .” (91).

    When using ellipses at the end of a quotation without a parenthetical reference, follow with a
    period, for a total of four points. There is no space before the first period or after the last period.

    Example: The article states, “Many students work while attending school. . . .”

    Ellipses, Fall 2011. Rev. Summer 2014. 1 of 2


    Indicating Hesitation
    Ellipses can also indicate hesitation or pauses in speech.

    Example: “The winnah, and still heavyweight champion of the world . . . Joe Louis.”
    ~Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

    Activity
    Indicate if the ellipses in the following sentences are used correctly or incorrectly.

    1. “The hens in the barn . . . laid eggs.”


    2. “Well, look who walked in . . . Katie Peppermint,” sneered Carol.
    3. “The painting by her was [. . .] inspiring.”
    4. Jacobson states, “The board is right to vote down the proposal. . . .” (87)
    5. “Just remember, when you control the mail, you control . . . information.”
    6. And they lived happily ever after . . . until she died suddenly.
    7. The boy told the school nurse, “I am … feeling ill. Please ... call my mom.”
    8. “Ever since the Savoias left, these hilly, pine-stippled parklands…have been a
    favorite…lounging venue for plebeians and bluebloods alike.”
    9. “The Moors introduced almonds to Portugal . . .” (100).
    10. Jerry answered the phone saying, “Hello... What Delay Industries?”

    Answer Key for Activity


    1. Correct
    2. Correct
    3. Incorrect—Ellipses are only placed in brackets to differentiate between ellipses already
    present in the quote. Remove the brackets.
    4. Incorrect—The fourth period should be placed after the parenthetical citation. It should
    read (87).
    5. Correct
    6. Correct
    7. Incorrect—Spaces should be between the points.
    8. Incorrect—Spaces should precede, follow, and be in between the points.
    9. Correct
    10. Incorrect—Spaces should come before and in between the points.

    Ellipses, Fall 2011. Rev. Summer 2014. 2 of 2

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